Photo by Manley Brower StudioUnited States, Florida, Miami-Dade County, Miami, 25.77427, -80.19366R. E. Simpson (Miami, Fla.)1930/1945Postcard (color, linen texture, divided back, 3 1/2 x 5 1/2 inches) titled: 37 Tahiti Beach, Coconut Grove, Miami, Florida.- Beginning in February, 1926, guests staying at the Biltmore Hotel in Coral Gables had a new way to relax and enjoy their stay: 25 authentic gondolas, imported from Italy along with gondoliers, transported guests along the Coral Gables Waterway to a private playground called Tahiti Beach. Thatched huts shielded beachgoers from the sun while attendants dressed in authentic Tahitian clothing. A larger hut, the Tahiti Beach Clubhouse, also housed a small casino. In September, 1926 a storm destroyed most of the Polynesian-style paradise, and the economic collapse that followed prevented rebuilding of the attraction. Instead, Tahiti Beach was later opened to the general public, although it was built on a much smaller scale, with concession stands offering hot dogs and soft drinks. In 1974, the area was purchased as part of a private housing development. Text on reverse: A beautiful tropical bathing beach on the quiet waters of Biscayne Bay. Thatched huts lend a suggestion of a South Sea Isle. Card number 62356.image/jp2engMiami, Fla.: R. E. Simpsonhttp://rightsstatements.org/vocab/NoC-US/1.0/Ellen Payne Odom Genealogy Library Postcard CollectionBeaches--Florida--MiamiPostcards--Florida--MiamiTahiti Beach, Coconut Grove, Miami, FloridaStillImage